The newly restored house was finally moved-into the week before Christmas and there followed a few mad days of decorating with garlands and wreaths and huge flower arrangements plus an enormous Christmas tree in one of the halls. It all looked splendid and even now I cannot believe that after five long years the builders have nearly departed and I have a house to work with again. The views of the gardens from the house are so different from the external scene. I did not spend much time inside, during the restoration and so it is only now that I can appreciate how good it looks from a different perspective. The architect seems pleased with all I have done and I really must remember to compliment him on his work although the project was so large it appears foolish to say "It looks lovely" without going into great detail, which would take all day. I will find a way of showing my appreciation in due course.

So far we have had a few severe frosts in the valley and during one of these bouts the power went off in my greenhouse and I came to work the following day to find a very cool greenhouse indeed. Luckily our elevated position saved the day again and there was very little harm done. British Standard safety plug sockets are all very well but when they click off during a power cut they do not click on again when the power is restored and have to be connected manually when the gardener notices the error or after a weekend, when he returns to work. In this day and age you would think that that life would be easier but sometimes I believe we are going in reverse by using single-minded technology, which will not adapt to the vagaries of nature. Bring back the coal fired boiler and the under gardener to maintain it during the night.

I eventually got all the spring bulbs planted by Christmas Eve. Some I had to put in pots because the beds are not ready yet but it was such an arduous task and what a relief to empty the last bulb into it's hole. I place all the pots in a new frame I constructed near the potting shed and just as I expected. Some evil form of wildlife came among and rootled amongst them, tipping some over and emptying others of their bulbish contents. I have netted over them all as I knew I would but I do like to give nature a chance to behave decently....it very rarely does. I should have my deer and rabbit fencing up before long and then I can garden without looking over my shoulder all the time thinking I can see little furry things waiting to pounce. Whilst we are on the subject of L.F.T's ,Daisy my jack russell is now busy tormenting the king charles spaniel resident in the house. He is quite young and rather fat and he has been 'seen too' but that is no reason for her to curl her lips whenever he squeaks and bounds around her. She never does that to any person or animal so why pick on my employer's dog, it's so embarrassing. She is on heat again, for the last time I may add and so I should be spared further trouble in that quarter.

I have so many jobs to so during the next few months, nearly all of them planting. I am not really using my greenhouses to the best of their potential yet, once the power is sorted out I shall begin propagating in earnest in preparation for spring, which is just round the corner. I have engaged the local pond people to come and plan and plant up a small formal pond on one of the terraces because I figured they will get it right first time and it will save me hours of thought and trial and error and to tell you the truth I shall have my work cut out this year and whatever help I can find will be money well spent.